2014 Delaware turkey season to open April 12DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife announces check stations

DOVER (April 4, 2014) – The 2014 Delaware spring turkey hunting season opens Saturday, April 12, and runs through Saturday, May 10, the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Hunters are reminded that all birds taken must be checked at an authorized turkey check station by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the hunt.

Delaware hunters must have successfully completed a mandatory turkey hunter safety and education class before they can legally hunt wild turkeys in Delaware. Turkey hunters also are required to carry their Hunter Education Card certifying successful completion of the course.

Hunting on public lands, including state forest lands, is by preseason lottery permit only. Hunters must carry their public lands permit while hunting and may only hunt the designated area and season segment/dates specified in the permit.

Hunter Education Coordinator Mark Ostroski offered some tips for a safe and successful hunt. “A successful turkey hunt depends on many factors, including skill, careful preparation and attention to safety details. Hunters should be sure to pattern their gun, because knowing where and how your gun shoots can make all the difference between failure and success at bagging that big gobbler,” he said.

Ostroski noted that hunters also should remember these important safety practices:

Take time to identify your target and what lies beyond;

Avoid wearing clothing that includes the colors red, blue, black and white;

Never stalk a wild turkey; and

Do not imitate the male gobbling call trying to attract another gobbler.

The wild turkey remains one of Delaware’s top restoration successes after being on the verge of extinction by the early 20th century. In the early 1980s, the Division of Fish and Wildlife partnered with the Delaware chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation to reestablish a wild turkey population in the state. By 1991, the population had grown large enough to permit opening a wild turkey hunting season, and the big birds continue to thrive and multiply.

Last year, 614 birds were harvested, the second-highest season harvest on record, and the turkey season was marked by several new achievements. “For the first time turkeys were reported as harvested on the C&D Canal Conservation Area, which is a good indicator of how abundant and widespread our turkey population has become,” said Wildlife Biologist Matt DiBona, noting this was also the first year a bird was harvested using a muzzleloader. Several birds with multiple beards – a relatively rare occurrence in Delaware’s wild turkey population – were harvested, including two birds with six beards each, DiBona added.

Authorized turkey check stations for 2014 will be available at the following locations:

New Castle County

Ommelanden Hunter Education Center Route 9, River Road, just north of Federal Lane, New Castle 302-323‐5333.

Kent County

Woodland Beach Wildlife Check Station Route 9, 4876 Hay Point Landing Road, just north of intersection with Route 6 302-653‐4802

Little Creek Wildlife Area Check StationRoute 9, Bayside Drive just south of the town of Little Creek 302-739‐4610

Check station hours may vary, so hunters are advised to call the station where they are likely to check a bird to confirm the hours of operation. Hunters who want to have their bird scored and entered into the National Wild Turkey Federation records are reminded to have their bird’s live weight recorded on a certified scale. If the check station does not have a certified scale, hunters will have to go to another shop to have the turkey re-weighed.